Sally Phillips and JJ Feild lead cast in Relics world premiere at Lyric Hammersmith
The new family comedy Relics by Ben Ockrent is set for its world premiere at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre this summer, featuring a notable cast including Sally Phillips and JJ Feild. Directed by Michael Longhurst, the production opens on 18 June and explores buried family secrets following a mother’s death.
Relics, a comedy about four siblings reuniting to divide their recently deceased mother’s possessions, will run at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre from 18 June to 18 July, with a press night scheduled for 24 June.
The cast includes Sally Phillips, JJ Feild, Charly Clive and Sam Swainsbury, who portray the siblings Liv, Rob, Michelle and Jonny. As the story unfolds, tensions rise when a long-hidden family secret is revealed.
Writer Ben Ockrent expressed his excitement at the play’s debut, calling it “the honour of my life” to premiere at the historic venue and praising the involvement of director Michael Longhurst.
Longhurst highlighted the play’s exploration of the “primal, excruciatingly recognisable” impulse to regress when returning to the family home, praising Ockrent’s writing and the cast’s talents ahead of rehearsals.
The creative team supporting the production includes Joanna Scotcher on set and costume design, Simisola Majekodunmi as lighting designer, Dan Balfour handling sound, Anna Cooper CDG as casting director, and Bret Yount as fight director.
Relics adds to the Lyric Hammersmith’s tradition of staging innovative new work, presenting a fresh family drama that mixes humour with emotional complexity.
